Multi-purpose credit card reader apparatus

ABSTRACT

A credit card reader shields a credit card, stores data from one or more credit cards simultaneously and then selectively broadcasts data associated with one of the cards. A slim, electromagnetically shielding housing has a cavity and a card reader for reading data from a credit card received in the cavity. A processor connects the card reader to a memory component, and connects both to an RFID device, where the credit card data can be broadcast to an RFID reader. A control interface allows a user to initiate reading credit card data, to select a card data set to store in memory, or to broadcast a dataset. A display shows transaction information and stored card data. A retractable input/output plug can engage a socket on another device to transmit and receive data. A memory card device can selectively store credit card data and transaction data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/698,260, filed Apr. 28, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/256,058, filed Apr. 18, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.9,016,570, issued Apr. 28, 2015.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to a credit card reader apparatus and moreparticularly to a multi-purpose device for reading card data as well asstoring data associated with one or more credit cards and then usingthat data to emulate a credit card through RFID to complete a credittransaction, similar to a typical credit card transaction. The device isalso capable of directly reading card data to receive charges through amerchant account.

The card reader apparatus has a slim, rectangular housing with aninternal cavity and an opening at a first end of the housing that allowsa user to insert a credit card into the cavity, where a credit cardmagnetic strip reader in the housing reads magnetic data stored on thecredit card. The housing is constructed of shielding material, whereby acard received and stored within the housing cannot be read byunauthorized devices. The housing is also configured to fit within acard fold within a wallet, so a user can conveniently carry the devicein a wallet.

The card reader apparatus may be used to read and store data formultiple credit cards, and then allows the user to select datacorresponding to one of those credit cards before making a credittransaction by way of an RFID transmission. After a transaction iscompleted, the credit account corresponding to the selected credit carddata is charged, just as if the credit card itself had been used for thetransaction.

In use, data is read from the card by the card reader and is transferredto a read/write memory component connected to the central processor. Thecard reader can simultaneously store card data for more than one creditcard. Thus, the user can insert and remove multiple cards, one at atime, so the respective card data is read from each card and then storedinto the memory. At a later time, even without a card received in thehousing, the user can select a desired dataset corresponding to one ofthe cards before completing a credit transaction.

For transmitting the card data to another device, the card apparatusincludes a radio frequency identification (RFID) device connected to theprocessor. The processor is configured and arranged to read credit carddata from the storage location in the memory component responsive to aselection by the user and to provide the credit card data to the RFIDdevice so the data can then be broadcast to an RFID reader on areceiving device.

To allow a user control the operation of the card reader, the cardreader has a control interface that is connected to the processor. Theprocessor and the control reader are configured and arranged so a usercan selectively control the card reader to perform various functionssuch as reading data from a credit card, selectively controlling thecard reader to store the credit card data in the memory component, andselectively controlling the card reader to broadcast credit card datathrough the RFID device.

A display on the card reader provides information to a user regardingthe stored credit card data and a credit transaction performed by thecard reader. For example, the display can show information such as whichset of card data a user has selected, a card name corresponding to theselected card dataset, and the amount of money in a credit transaction(e.g. the dollar amount paid by the user). The display can show otherinformation regarding transactions, such as recent transactions, cardinformation, or other data stored in memory.

The card reader may be operated as a standalone device for cardemulation, or it may engage another device, such as a mobile electronicdevice, by way of a retractable input/output plug located within asecond end of the housing. The plug is electrically connected to theprocessor and configured to transmit data to and receive data from themobile electronic device. The card reader can send information to themobile electronic device so the mobile electronic device can store datausing its own memory and transmit data over a cellular phone network, awireless internet network, another network, or through a data transferdevice such as a Bluetooth or RFID device. The mobile electronic devicecan also support software that interfaces with the card reader to allowthe user to control and monitor the operation of the card reader throughthe mobile electronic device and for use in accepting and processingcharges through a merchant account.

The retractable input/output plug is extendable so that it extends fromthe second end of the housing. In this extended position, the plug canbe received in a socket on a mobile electronic device, such as an audioport, or another connection port on the mobile electronic device. Afterthe user disengages the plug from the mobile electronic device, the usercan retract the plug to a retracted position in which the plug residessubstantially or entirely within the housing, making the housing moreconvenient for storage within a wallet or another carrier.

To prevent rotation of the flat card reader housing with respect to themobile electronic device when the plug is received in the socket of themobile electronic device, the card reader may further include amechanical stabilizer.

The mobile electronic device engaged by the card reader can be a cellphone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant, or another mobileelectronic device.

In addition to the memory component, the card reader has a memory cardreader that is connected to the processor. The processor is configuredto selectively store credit card data and credit transaction data on amemory card received within the memory card reader.

The card reader has a battery power source to provide power to thecomponents of the card reader apparatus.

The RFID device may be a passive RFID device, a semi-passive RFIDdevice, or an active RFID device.

Although the preferred embodiment uses an RFID device, other near fieldcommunication devices are contemplated, and are within the scope of thepresent invention. For example, the card reader could communicate withother devices by way of a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver, an ultrawideband transmitter/receiver, or another near field communication (NFC)transmitter/receiver.

Accordingly, among the objects of the instant invention are: theprovision of a credit card reader apparatus that can read and storecredit card data from one or more credit cards, and then transmit thedata to another device to make a credit transaction. The presentinvention also provides a credit card reader that can securely house acredit card within an electromagnetically shielded housing. The presentinvention also provides a credit card reader that can read data from acredit card, store the data from the credit card so the card reader maybe used to make a credit transaction even when the corresponding creditcard is not received in the card reader. The present invention providesa card reader that can transmit data to and receive data from a mobileelectronic device, which can complete a transaction using data from thecard reader. The present invention provides a stabilizer that allows thecard reader to be securely supported on a mobile electronic device whenthe two are connected.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall becomeapparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered inconnection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated ofcarrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the operation of the card reader of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the card reader of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of the card reader of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a second embodiment thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, the card reader of the instant inventionis illustrated and generally indicated at 10 in FIGS. 1-4. As willhereinafter be more fully described, the instant card reader apparatusprovides a portable device capable of emulating a credit card selectedfrom a plurality of credit cards, each credit card having data stored onthe card reader apparatus.

The invention particularly relates to storing credit card data in acomputer readable storage medium, using an RFID device to broadcastcredit card data from the card reader to a second device, and storingcard data and payment data on the card reader.

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of the general operation of an exemplaryembodiment of the card reader of the present invention. As will bedescribed in more detail below, the exemplary embodiment of the cardreader apparatus allows a user to read data from one or more cards, andstore card data for those cards in memory. Then, the user can select oneof the cards for a transaction, such as a purchase of an item. The cardselected is displayed on a display screen on the card reader. Then, thedata corresponding to the selected card is sent to an RFID device, whichbroadcasts the data to a second device having an RFID reader. After thecredit transaction is complete, payment data is received from the seconddevice or payment data is manually entered by the user. This paymentdata can be shown on the display, and is stored in the memory of thecard reader, where it is associated with the card used for the payment.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. A processor connects components such as a card reader, afingerprint reader, a keypad, a display, an audio jack connector/plug,an RFID device, a memory component, and a memory card slot. A powersupply may be connected to the processor, which is electricallyconnected to various devices of the card reader that need an electricalpower supply. The operation of these components is described in moredetail below.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show two exemplary embodiments of the card readerapparatus of the present invention. These figures show how thecomponents of the present invention can fit on a card reader 10 havingan overall slim, compact profile that is convenient for carrying inplace of one or more credit cards.

The credit card reader apparatus 10 has a housing 12 that is configuredand arranged to allow a user to easily carry the card reader in a foldof a wallet or in a pocket. The card reader 10 has a slim, rectangularhousing 12 that can receive a credit card 30 to read data from the card30 or to securely carry the card 30. A user inserts a card 30 through anopening 16 in the housing 12 and into a cavity connected to the opening16. FIG. 3 shows a card 30 that is partially received in the opening 16of the housing, and the hidden portion of the card 30 is received in thecavity defined by opposing walls of the housing 12. The opening and thecavity are preferably dimensioned to provide minimal clearance around acredit card, thereby providing a snug, secure fit of the credit cardwithin the housing. The cavity preferably frictionally engages thecredit card 30, or has a retention mechanism for selectively retainingthe credit card within the cavity of the housing when a user carries thecard reader.

To provide electromagnetic shielding protection to a card 30 receivedwithin the housing 12, the housing 12 includes an electromagneticshielding material, and/or may be made entirely from theelectromagnetically shielding material.

A magnetic card reader 14 is seated within the cavity within the housing12 so that when a card is inserted into and/or removed from the housing,the data stored on the magnetic strip 32 of the credit card 30 is readfrom the card by the magnetic card reader. The location of the magneticcard reader 14 is shown generally in FIG. 3, though it is located on theinterior wall of the cavity of the housing 12 or within the wall of thehousing. A user slides a credit card into the cavity of the card reader10, causing the magnetic strip 32 of the credit card to pass over themagnetic card reader 14. The user can optionally remove the credit cardfrom the cavity, so another card can be read by the card reader, or theuser may leave the card 30 within the housing 12 where it is protectedfrom unauthorized scanning by the shielding material.

A central processor 27 is mounted within the housing, and is connectedto the credit card reader 14, so that data read from the credit card 30by the magnetic card reader 14 can be received by the processor 27, anddirected to a memory component 28, where the credit card data is stored.

For this purpose, the read/write memory component 28 is connected to theprocessor 27. The memory component includes a computer readable storagemedium, and is configured and arranged to receive and store credit carddata from the card reader. Data corresponding to more than one creditcard can be simultaneously stored in the memory component 28, and datacorresponding to a single credit card can be accessed separately fromdata corresponding to other cards.

To broadcast data from the card reader apparatus 10 to another device,the apparatus 10 includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) device21. The RFID device 21 is electrically connected to the processor 27.The processor 27 is configured and arranged to read credit card datafrom the storage location on the memory component 28. The processor 27then sends the credit card data to the RFID device 21, which thenconverts the credit card data to a signal that is transmitted by theRFID device transmitter/broadcaster 21 to an RFID reader on anotherdevice (not shown).

The RFID device 21 used for broadcasting/transmitting data can be apassive RFID device, a semi-passive RFID device, or an active RFIDdevice. Each type of RFID configuration is well known in the art.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a user can control the operation of thecard reader 10 through a control interface (keypad) 13 that iselectrically connected to the processor 27. The processor 27 and thecontrol interface 13 are configured and arranged to selectively controlreading data from the credit card 30, selectively storing the data inthe memory component 28, and selectively broadcasting the card datathrough the RFID device 21. In one embodiment, the control interface 13may include one or more buttons on the outer surface of the housing 12.In another embodiment, the control interface 13 is a touch screen on theouter surface of the housing 12. It is also possible to include avoice-recognition capability on the control interface, so a user mayoperate the card reader using voice commands.

The card reader housing 12 has a display screen 29 that displaysinformation to a user viewing the card reader. The display 29 iselectrically connected to the processor 27, and can receive a signalfrom the processor 27 to display information. For example, the display29 can show which card has been selected for payment, what amount hasbeen paid in a transaction, card information (e.g. a card name, a cardexpiration date, a card number), past transactions made with one or morecards, or a total amount paid with one or more of the cards on the cardreader during a specific time period (e.g. a credit card billing period,or another period specified by the user).

The housing 12 includes a battery power source 36 which provides powerfor components such as the processor 27, the display 29, the memorycomponent 28, the RFID device 21, and other components of the cardreader 10.

The card reader apparatus further includes a retractable input/outputplug 20 that is located on a second end of the housing 12. The plug 20is electrically connected to the processor 27 and is configured toengage a socket 42 on a mobile device 40 to transmit data to and receivedata from the mobile electronic device 40.

When the card reader 10 engages the mobile electronic device 40 throughthe plug 20 engaging the socket 42, the mobile electronic device can beused to control the card reader 10, or to communicate with anotherdevice. The mobile device 40 has its own processor, memory, and display.The mobile device can support software such as an application thatprovides a control interface for the card reader, or that collects datafrom the card reader to store or send to another device, for example,over a network connection. In this way, the mobile device provides amerchant point of sale terminal for a credit transaction. It allows auser to emulate a credit card when buying or selling an item or making amoney transfer, and to communicate that transaction to the financialinstitution corresponding to the credit card.

A mobile device such as a cell phone may have a global positioningsystem (GPS) device that allows the device to identify its location. Byrecognizing its location, the device 40 may send a signal to the cardreader apparatus 10 that initiates a transaction or that prompts a userto begin a transaction process. For example, the mobile device 40 mayrecognize that the user is at a restaurant from which the user hasordered food to pick up, and the mobile device could prompt the user tobegin the payment process.

To allow a user to expand the memory of the system of the card reader10, the credit card reader apparatus 10 has a memory card reader device23 that is connected to the processor 27. A memory card (not shown) canbe inserted into the memory card reader 23 through a memory card slot25. The processor 27 is configured to selectively store credit card dataand credit card transaction data on the memory card that electronicallyengages the memory card reader 23.

The input/output plug 20 is preferably configured as a male plug thatcan engage a female audio port 42 on a mobile electronic device 40. Theplug 20 is also preferably retractable, so that it can be deployedbetween a retracted position and an extended position. In the retractedposition, the plug 20 is received substantially entirely within thehousing 12. This allows a user to more easily store the card readerapparatus 10 in a wallet, a pocket, or another place for carrying theapparatus. In the extended position, the plug 20 extends from thehousing 12 so that the plug 20 can be received in a socket (such as anaudio port) 42 within another device (such as a mobile electronicdevice).

To prevent undesired pivoting/rotating of the housing 12 with respect tothe mobile electronic device 40, the housing also preferably includes amechanical stabilizer 24 on the outer surface of the housing 12. Whenthe plug 20 is received in a socket 42 in another device 40, and whenthe stabilizer 24 on the housing 12 frictionally engages the mobileelectronic device 40, it prevents rotation of the housing 12 withrespect to the mobile electronic device 40. When the stabilizer 24 doesnot engage the mobile electronic device 40, the housing may rotate aboutthe axis of rotation of the plug 20 in the socket 42 of the mobileelectronic device. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the stabilizer 24 as a short postextending from the card reader 10, between the card reader 10 and themobile device 40.

Although the preferred embodiment uses an RFID device, other near fieldcommunication devices are contemplated, and are within the scope of thepresent invention. For example, the card reader could communicate withother devices by way of a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver, an ultrawideband (UWB) transmitter/receiver, or another near field communication(NFC) transmitter/receiver.

The card reader 10 of the present invention can include a fingerprintreader 15 to provide additional security. The fingerprint reader 15allows the card reader 10 to be deactivated until the fingerprint reader15 reads the fingerprint of a recognized and authorized user of the cardreader 10. The fingerprint reader 15 is connected to the processor 27,which compares fingerprint data read from the fingerprint reader 15 tofingerprint data of authorized user(s) on the memory component 28 or ona memory card (not shown). When the data from the fingerprint reader 15matches fingerprint data in memory, the card reader 10 is electronicallyunlocked for use.

The housing 12 of FIGS. 3 and 4 provides space for advertising or otherprinted information such as ads, decorative images, or text. The housing12 of FIG. 3 does not include a large keypad, providing more space forsuch printed matter.

It can therefore be seen that the card reader apparatus of the presentinvention provides a multi-purpose credit card apparatus that can readand store credit card data from one or more credit cards, and thentransmit the data to another device to make a credit transaction. Thepresent invention also provides a credit card reader that can securelyhouse a credit card within an electromagnetically shielded housing. Thepresent invention also provides a credit card reader that can read datafrom a credit card, store the data from the credit card so the cardreader may be selectively used to make a credit transaction even whenthe corresponding credit card is not received in the card reader. Thepresent invention provides a card reader that can transmit data to andreceive data from a mobile electronic device, which can complete atransaction using data from the card reader. The present inventionprovides a stabilizer that allows the card reader to be securelysupported on a mobile electronic device when the two are connected. Forthese reasons, the instant invention is believed to represent asignificant advancement in the art which has substantial commercialmerit.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structureembodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the artthat various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventiveconcept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms hereinshown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A credit card reader apparatus comprising: ahousing; a magnetic credit card reader located within a cavity in saidhousing; a processor connected to the magnetic credit card reader; aread/write memory component connected to the processor, said processorreceiving credit card data from the magnetic credit card reader andwriting the credit card data to a storage location in said read/writememory component; a radio frequency identification (RFID) deviceconnected to the processor, said processor reading said credit card datafrom said storage location and providing said credit card data to saidRFID device; a control interface connected to the processor, saidprocessor and said control interface selectively controlling readingdata from said credit card, selectively storing said credit card data insaid read/write memory component and selectively controlling broadcastof said credit card data through said RFID device; an input/outputdevice connected to said processor, said input/output devicecommunicating with a mobile electronic device and to transmit data toand receive data from the mobile electronic device; and a memory cardreader device connected to said processor, said processor selectivelywriting and reading credit card data and credit transaction data to andfrom said memory card reader device.
 2. The credit card reader apparatusof claim 1 wherein said RFID device is a passive device.
 3. The creditcard reader apparatus of claim 1 wherein said RFID device is asemi-passive device.
 4. The credit card reader apparatus of claim 1wherein said RFID device is an active device.
 5. The credit card readerapparatus of claim 1 wherein the read/write memory component is capableof simultaneously storing data for a plurality of credit cards.
 6. Thecredit card reader apparatus of claim 2 wherein the read/write memorycomponent is capable of simultaneously storing data for a plurality ofcredit cards.
 7. The credit card reader apparatus of claim 3 wherein theread/write memory component is capable of simultaneously storing datafor a plurality of credit cards.
 8. The credit card reader apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein the read/write memory component is capable ofsimultaneously storing data for a plurality of credit cards.
 9. Thecredit card reader apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing isfabricated from an electromagnetic shielding material and said housingprovides electromagnetic shielding to a credit card received within saidcavity.
 10. The credit card reader apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidinput/output device comprises a physical pin connector which engageswith a complementary port on said mobile electronic device.
 11. Thecredit card reader apparatus of claim 4 wherein said input/output devicecomprises a physical pin connector which engages with a complementaryport on said mobile electronic device.
 12. The credit card readerapparatus of claim 8 wherein said input/output device comprises aphysical pin connector which engages with a complementary port on saidmobile electronic device.